You can’t win without a goalie
Shocking, right? Or, as my wife would say, “I’m gonna have a heart attack and die from that surprise.” I mean, it’s only been the single most obvious playoff fact for the past century. And amazingly, the Flyers continually ignore it. Or so it appears.

Ron Hextall, yes that Ron Hextall, was the last franchise goaltender the Flyers had between the pipes. Since then, the Flyers have put John Vanbiesbrouck, Roman Cechmanek, Garth Snow, Brian Boucher, Robert Esche, Brian Boucher again, and 700 other goalies in net. None have stuck. The Flyers failure to find a franchise goaltender is equivalent to the Eagles failure to give McNabb a wide receiver for the first decade of his career, except multiplied by ten. You can find a way to win without a wide receiver. You can’t win without a goalie. In 10 2011 playoff games, the Flyers yanked their goalie in six of them. (Queue the Joker emphatically mouthing “Siiiiiiix?”) That’s unheard of. As Tony Kornheiser pointed out on PTI the other day, if you have three goaltenders, you have none.

What’s so frustrating about Philadelphia’s struggles in net is that nothing has been done in the past quarter of a century to address the problem. Ok, maybe that’s not totally true. The organization has tried. Unfortunately, they’ve failed. Every time. It’s still the Flyers fault, though. To fail so frequently at the most important position is inexcusable. A hot goaltender can single-handedly drag a team to a title. No other position in any other sport can make that claim.

If you think I’m overstating the position, watch the Flyers next (and probably final) playoff game on Friday night. The goaltending has been atrocious. Brian Boucher came into a must win Game 3 unfocused and allowed two goals in the first 65 seconds as a result. (His second, “I’ll play the first five minutes like I’m tripping on Shrooms,” performance of the 2011 Playoffs.) On top of that, most of the goals he’s allowed have been relatively soft goals. Even worse, I can’t remember one fantastic save he’s made in the postseason. At some point, a good playoff team steals a win because its goalie stood on his head for 60 minutes. The Flyer goaltenders have done the opposite, making it nearly impossible for the team to win without playing a perfect game.

Many have criticized the Philadelphia defense for the team’s struggles. While this is understandable, I don’t totally agree. Bad goaltending puts added pressure on a defense. It requires perfection. Naturally, the defensemen play a little tighter knowing any mistake could end up in the back of the net. Playing tentatively in the NHL playoffs is a recipe for disaster. Watch a defense with an outstanding goalie. That defense is aggressive, confident, and unafraid to make a big play. They know their goalie is there to cover their rear ends. The Flyers don’t have that luxury and it’s obviously taken its toll on the team. Knowing they can’t win a low scoring game wears on players over time. It’s why great offenses never win a World Series. Bad goaltending is a cancer. Amazingly, the Flyers survived it in round one. In round two, the cancer spread. It’s terminal. The Flyers have only a few days left.

Quick tangent: Why isn’t Sergei Bobrovsky starting? I know everyone likes to point to his age and inexperience, but umm, hello? We all knew the Flyers weren’t contending for the Cup after their late season swoon. Why not give “Bob” some playoff exposure? Sitting on the bench as Boucher lets pucks pass like a bouncer welcomes pretty girls at a club isn’t going to do much for Bobrovsky down the road. Put him in the game. Let him experience the pressure and intensity first hand. It’s not like Boucher is significantly better, anyway. In fact, it’s ridiculous that Boucher has been given so many opportunities while Bobrovsky was banished after one bad period in Game 2 against Buffalo. He should have been the goalie all along, even if he wasn’t going to carry them to the Stanley Cup. At least Bobrovsky has a future with the team. Boucher is an NHL nomad undoubtedly headed for a new home next season because he’s certainly no longer welcome in Philadelphia.

Fluke goals beat hot goaltending
As we just covered, goaltending is key in the NHL Playoffs. Smoking hot goaltenders are as big a part of playoff hockey as overtime marathons, referees swallowing their whistles (bravo by the way), and crowds harassing opposing net minders with cynical chants.

When facing a locked-in goaltender, it’s important for players to remember one thing; put the puck on net. Hot goaltenders are never, ever, ever beaten by highlight goals. It’s always a fluke. A weird deflection, a brain fart, a shot that shouldn’t have gone in, yet somehow, someway, found its way to the back of the net. It’s just the way it works. Throw it on goal from the blue line, or try to fire it off the goalie from behind the net. Just get the puck to the goal. Make the goalie work. Keep him on his toes. Eventually, his concentration will slip or even better, you’ll get lucky. The Nashville Predators finally solved Roberto Luongo after nearly 120 minutes of shutout hockey by throwing the puck off his left skate from behind the net. It wasn’t an amazing shot or the result of a crisp, cross-ice pass. It was simply a desperate attempt to tie the game in the closing seconds. Throw the puck on net and eventually, it will find a way in. It always does.

Teams that dominate overtime never win.
It’s a known fact. If your team is in overtime, and they’re generating scoring chance after scoring chance, just go to bed. Turn off the TV, hit the lights, and go to sleep. It’s over. Your team is finished. Controlling play and applying consistent pressure throughout the overtime period is a prelude to defeat. In the past week alone, the Flyers, Predators, and Red Wings controlled overtime periods before succumbing to what appeared to be the opponent’s first opportunity of the extra period.

I know it’s counter-intuitive to root for your team to be passive in overtime, but it may be your best option. Picture it this way: Remember the Street Fighter video game on Sega? As you assaulted your opponent, his/her health would slowly decline. NHL overtime hockey works the same way, only in reverse. With every scoring opportunity that doesn’t result in the game winning goal, the opponent’s power grows. Until finally, their power bar is full and what appeared to be one harmless shot on goal turns into the game winner. I’ve been watching the NHL Playoffs since the Flyers were on PRISM, rats decorated the ice in Florida, and Mark Recchi was on his first tour in Philadelphia. The rule hasn’t changed. Dominate overtime, go to sleep disappointed.

Don’t hitch your Stanley Cup wagon to Alexander Ovechkin
Washington D.C. lets out a collective sigh.

You’ve got to hand it to the Flyers. They could have easily checked out and started golfing this weekend. After all, they overachieved last season by coming within two wins of the Stanley Cup, so bowing out in the first round, while disappointing, wouldn’t have sent the natives into – blood thirsty the Eagles just got bounced from the playoffs for the 9^th season in a row – mode.

Not these Flyers, though. What we’ve learned in the past year about Peter Laviolette’s group is this: Don’t ever count them out.

Although the second round is hardly the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers overcame a lot to even reach round two. First and foremost, they overcame horrible goaltending. I know, I know, Brian Boucher played well throughout most of the series. Still, that first period of Game 5 was one of the least focused periods I’ve seen a goalie play. For whatever reason, Boucher’s head was elsewhere. Allowing horribly soft goals from near impossible angles not only put his team in a 0-3 hole, but it eliminated the crowd, and cost the team its confidence.  Boucher wasn’t alone, though. Sergei Bobrovsky redefined awful in Game 2 and Michael Leighton reminded us why he started only one game in the regular season with his brief cameo in Game 6.

Speaking of Leighton’s Game 6 performance, I blame Laviolette. If he wanted to send a message to Boucher, he should have started Bobrovsky, not Leighton. Bobrovsky got himself banished after one horrible period. Boucher got a slap on the wrist. Benching Boucher and then starting Leighton over Bobrovsky nearly cost Philadelphia the series. And that would have been on Laviolette.

Truth is, Laviolette’s awful personnel move in Game 6 should have cost Philadelphia the series. Thankfully, the Flyers have an uncanny knack for picking themselves up off the mat and therefore, bailed out their coach. In two of their four victories, Philadelphia came from behind to win, and that doesn’t include their comeback from three goals down in Game 5, which undoubtedly affected the Sabres two days later.

In Game 6, despite a two goal lead, Buffalo looked rattled once Philadelphia increased its pressure. See, the Flyers greatest asset is their intensity. Watch them play for an entire series without glancing at the score and you’d think they were in overtime, not trailing 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2. That resilience from the Flyers kept Buffalo on edge. Even with a multiple goal lead, the Sabres played tight, as if they knew the lead wouldn’t hold. While Philadelphia’s comeback in Game 5 came up short, it affected Buffalo’s confidence and ultimately aided the Flyers’ rally in Game 6.

In addition to fighting their way back into games, the Flyers twice had to fight to regain home ice, and twice succeeded. Dropping game one was a surprise to no one. Philadelphia entered the playoffs bloodied and on the ropes. Squeaking out Game 2 and stealing Game 3 in Buffalo gave the Flyers back home ice and helped them find their stride again. Although Boucher’s swinging door policy in Game 5 gave home ice back to Buffalo, his teammates again responded to rip it, and the series itself, away from the Sabres in what ultimately was the final blow to Lindy Ruff’s fragile team. Wrestling away home ice on two separate occasions isn’t a matter of talent or depth. It’s a measure of grit, heart, and to reference Rookie of the Year, “Want-to.” (Update: It’s been brought to my attention that it’s actually “have-to.” Whoops. “Have-to” doesn’t work for me here, so let’s just pretend. Ok? Thanks.)

Heart overcomes injuries to two of the team’s top five players. Teams with grit don’t look around for someone to make a play. Each player puts that responsibility on himself. “Want-to” isn’t discouraged by multiple goal deficits. It thrives on the challenge to rally. These Flyers don’t back down. They refuse to give up. And if you count them out, they’ll take a lead, a game, and even a series right out from under your nose.

Settle down, Vancouver. Settle down.

I doubt most of you on the east coast were still up at 1:15 AM to catch the conclusion of the Blackhawks/Canucks series, so here’s a 15 second recap: The Canucks, once up 3-0 in the series, dropped the next three to Chicago to force a Game 7. Ok, they pretty much got annihilated in Games 4 and 5, but whatever. In Game 7, the Canucks scored less than three minutes in and held that 1-0 lead until just under two minutes remained in the game. At the 1:56 mark of the 3^rd period, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal to knot the score at one. You could practically hear the 20,000 Vancouver fans in attendance dry-heaving in their seats.

In overtime, the Canucks killed off an early penalty before eventually scoring the series clinching goal on an awful turnover in the Chicago zone. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the overtime was too short to match the intensity of regulation. (I think the NHL needs a silent rule to discourage goals in the first 10 minutes of playoff overtimes. It’s a beautiful thing when 60 minutes of intense playoff hockey results in overtime. However, during the overtime intermission, someone apparently opens the pressure valve as the intensity to start overtime is rarely at the level it was to close the final period. It takes time to ratchet that intensity back up. Is there anything we can do to ensure the goals come in the latter part of overtimes? Please? )

Regardless, Chicago’s valiant and inspiring run to pull off the second 0-3 series comeback in as many years fell just short. On the other hand, without goalie Corey Crawford in net, Chicago may have lost Game 7 by double digits. The 26-year-old Crawford made one unbelievable save after another, keeping Chicago in the game as long as possible until Alex Burrows fired a rocket over Crawford’s right shoulder to send the Blackhawks home for the summer.

I was a little bummed. You see, throughout the series my rooting interest changed about eight times. I wanted Vancouver because I was still bitter about losing to Chicago in the Stanley Cup. Then I wanted Chicago to make it interesting after going down 0-3. Then I wanted Vancouver again because I felt bad for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo. (By the way, benching Luongo in Game 6 was the single dumbest call I’ve seen all season. Laviolette starting Leighton in Game 6 was a close second. Must be a Game 6 coaching breakdown thing. I digress.) Halfway through Game 7, I switched back to Chicago because I admired their effort and determination despite being overmatched by Vancouver’s talent. Once Chicago tied the game, I again wanted Vancouver because I feared the Blackhawks comeback could diminish the Flyers’ epic comeback against Boston last year. Then, finally, after Vancouver won, I wished Chicago had won.

And here, albeit five paragraphs later, is where I finally get to my point: I’ve never seen a one seed celebrate so euphorically after knocking off an eight seed. I understand there’s a lot of history there (Chicago eliminated Vancouver the last two seasons), but still. You could at least act like you thought you were going to win. Compare the Flyers’ celebration with Vancouver’s. Philadelphia hugged, thanked their goalie and moved to shake hands. The Canucks were jumping on each other and dropping equipment like they’d just won the Cup. The Vancouver coaches were even worse, hugging and jumping around the bench like 13-year-olds meeting Justin Bieber. I’m not trying to rain on the Canucks’ parade. I like them. I want those awesome blue jerseys in the playoffs. All I’m saying is Vancouver’s reaction to getting out of the first round doesn’t bode well for their Stanley Cup hopes. Let’s just leave it at that.

Flyers starting to show life.
The effort in game one was encouraging. The offensive explosion in game two was surprising. In game three, the Flyers wisely picked their spots and outlasted the Buffalo Sabres en route to a 2-1 series lead. While it’s still early, it appears Philadelphia has begun shaking off the rust that accumulated over the final month of the regular season.

If you review the game summary from Monday night’s game three, the Flyers fell short in nearly every statistical category. They were outshot, had fewer takeaways, lost the faceoff battle, and delivered fewer hits than the up-tempo Sabres. However, Philadelphia committed fewer turnovers and outperformed Buffalo where it mattered most; goals scored.

Take a look at the previous paragraph. What do you see? Clearly, the Flyers, knowing Buffalo would be amped for their first home playoff game of the 2011 postseason, approached the game with a passive-aggressive mindset. They played conservative, waiting to pounce on Buffalo’s miscues.

Despite being outshot, the Flyers had the better scoring chances. Most of Buffalo’s shots were what I like to call, “contained.” In other words, they were shots the Flyer defense was willing to surrender. At no point did they lose control of the game. While Brian Boucher played well, it wasn’t like he was standing on his head to keep the Flyers in the game. In fact, I can hardly remember any of his saves other than the one that broke his mask. That means solid defense, controlled chances, and aggressive back-checking.

Offensively, Philadelphia was more assertive in getting shots on goal even though they still struggle to do so while on the power play. With a man advantage, the Flyers still inexplicably dance around with the puck. Looking for the perfect play is the best way to waste a power play. If there’s one thing that permeates playoff hockey, it’s to get the puck on net. Whenever you can from wherever you are, shoot the puck. Just do it. In the regular season, waiting for a better opportunity is acceptable. In the playoffs, chances aren’t guaranteed. It’s important to make the most of the ones you’re given. The Flyers appear to understand this except when they’re on the power play, which makes no sense at all. How many playoff goals are scored in the midst of chaos in front of the net? Getting shots and (hopefully) rebounds gets the defense scrambling and back on its heels. A panicked defense is a power play’s best friend.

Also, as someone who was extremely disappointed by Danny Briere in his first few seasons in Philadelphia, I now consider myself a fan. He may even be my favorite Flyer to watch. It’s fun to see a player take on the persona of the city in which he plays like Briere has.

Briere was a finesse player for the Buffalo Sabres and played a similar style after coming to Philadelphia… at least until the 2010 playoffs. It was during Philadelphia’s epic 2010 run that Briere transformed into a grinder. He’s neither the strongest nor the biggest forward, but he fights harder and plays with more emotion than any Flyer aside from Scottie Hartnell. I used to loathe Briere and his “soft” style of play. He wasn’t built for Philadelphia. He looked out of place in the Flyers’ rugged orange and black. Now, he’s perfect for this city – grinding for every inch in a game where nothing is given.

Other NHL Notes
Thanks to the brilliance of the NHL, I’ve only seen 1 and 1/3 of the Flyers playoff games. To get my NHL Playoff fix, I’ve resorted to paying more attention to the other series. Some random thoughts…

*Despite their demolition of the Canucks last night, I’ve already written off the Blackhawks. I’m sure the Chicago fans are thrilled the defending champs finally decided to care in game four, down 0-3 in the series. Not that it matters. Derrick Rose has the city’s full attention, so the Blackhawks are a mere afterthought.

*I’m amazed at the lack of effort devoted to back-checking by so many forwards, and in some cases, even defensemen. Skating a few feet behind the offensive player isn’t back-checking. If you watch Buffalo’s second goal on Monday night you’ll see Philadelphia defensemen, Braydon Coburn lagging behind the play. After pinching and missing in the offensive end, allowing Buffalo an odd man rush, Coburn lazily pursues Nathan Gerbe. Instead of catching Gerbe, Coburn coasts a foot or two behind, apparently content with his positioning. Whoops. Gerbe received the pass and Colburn frantically lunged but was too far out of position. Gerbe scored and Buffalo secured momentum heading into the 3^rd period. I’ve witnessed similar events in two of three Rangers/Capitals games, the Nashville/Anaheim series, and in last night’s Sharks/Kings classic. Put a body on the attacking player and ride him out of the play.

*Speaking of which, I’m embarrassed. I rarely give up on a sporting event much less a playoff game. But last night, after Dirk and the Mavericks closed out the Portland Trailblazers, I went to bed. The Sharks were getting destroyed in Los Angeles, so I decided it wasn’t worth my time. After all, getting up at six every morning to keep up with a 10 month old wrecking ball requires rest. Of course, the Sharks rallied from four goals down to win in overtime. What’s worse, I distinctively said to myself before heading to bed that I would regret it if San Jose came back. They did and I do. Lesson learned. NHL Playoffs = more fun than sleep.

Full Disclosure: It takes one hand to count how many NHL games I watched this season from start to finish. My excuse? I’m a Flyers fan with no access to Flyer games because Comcast doesn’t like to share. It’s also not my fault the NHL broadcasts its games on an obscure sports channel instead of a mainstream network that garners national attention. Anyway, the point is, I follow the NHL all season without actually watching many games. Is that even possible? Yeah, I think so. If not, well, it’s the best I can do. Blame Comcast and the mindless marketing department at NHL headquarters.

Thankfully, the postseason means uninhibited access to the NHL. In other words, I shell out the extra $5 a month for Versus, I actually get to watch my beloved Flyers, and the sound of crashing boards, rubber pucks, and raucous arenas sing me to sleep each night on my couch. I don’t have the ammunition for a complete preview, but here’s what interests me…

Can the Flyers rally?
The Flyers stormed into the 2010-2011 season with the same momentum and urgency that propelled them to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring. Unfortunately, the Stanley Cup hangover eventually hit town, at the worst time nonetheless, and the defending Eastern Conference champions have struggled immensely since. Floundering at 14-18 after the All Star break, the Flyers surrendered the conference’s top seed and ultimately backed into the playoffs, losing 8 of their final 11 games. Were the Flyers simply bored and waiting for the playoffs? If so, can they flip the switch and replicate their 2010 playoff run?

If you trust the experts, the answer is no. The Buffalo Sabres are the popular pick to advance. Picking Buffalo makes sense, too. Chris Pronger is injured; his status for the series in doubt. Once again, Philadelphia will be entering the playoffs without a true #1 goaltender. The Sabres have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams since the break, beating Philadelphia twice in that time. The list goes on and on. Regardless, I’m not writing off the Flyers. Not yet, at least.

The Flyers are battle tested. Entering the series as the ignored, overrated underdog, even as a two seed, will galvanize the locker room. How often does the popular upset pick actually pull the upset anyway? These Flyers know how to win in the postseason. They’ve overcome adversity, injury, even a 0-3 hole in a best of seven series. Plus, Peter Laviolette is one of the best coaches in the game. (By the way, proof that you don’t need to watch every game to know what’s going; I just spelled “Laviolette” correctly without looking it up. BAM!)

Adding to my blind faith in the Flyers is my disdain for the Sabres, especially Head Coach Lindy Ruff. Seeing Ruff behind the bench brings back painful memories of Dominik Hasek’s dominance over the Flyers, Rob Ray’s antics, Matthew Barnaby’s face, Michael Peca’s leadership, and John LeClair resorting to scoring through the side of the net. What’s worse, the Flyers have won only one playoff series in four attempts against Ruff. Obviously, the Sabres left a scar.

Maybe I’m too emotionally invested. Maybe I’m afraid of the NHL playoffs without my Flyers. Or, maybe I trust that everything this team learned a year ago wasn’t a fluke: That Mike Richards is a great captain. That Claude Giroux is an offensive wizard. That Chris Pronger turns into Godzilla when the Stanley Cup is within reach. That grinders like Scottie Hartnell and Ville Leino will be the difference in close games. That all that experience will propel this team to elevate its play and finally bring that Stanley Cup to the CoreStates/First Union/Wachovia/Wells Fargo Center that Ed Snyder promised would arrive by 1997.

Will the Washington Capitals choke again?
I covered the annual playoff collapse of the Washington Capitals in more detail a year ago. Feel free to get yourself up to speed; http://4thanddone.com/alexander-the-goat.

As for this year, after earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season, the Capitals again enter the playoffs under heavy pressure. Their roster is loaded. They have the most talented player in the league in Alex Ovechkin, and they’re (surprisingly) one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. Obviously, the aforementioned collapses hang over the Capitals like storm clouds. The only way to dissipate those clouds is to win the Stanley Cup, or at the very least, reach the Finals.

I expect a deep playoff run by the Capitals. Unlike previous seasons, the Capitals weren’t the best team in the conference all season long. In fact, during an eight game losing streak in December, the Capitals looked like a broken team on the verge of total collapse. It wasn’t until the final month and a half of the season that Washington found its stride and overtook the top spot (thanks mostly to the Flyers’ collapse). Because of their midseason struggles, the Caps have already overcome obstacles and established their identity. More importantly, an improved defense and stellar goaltending give the Capitals an edge in the two areas that most often decide a playoff series. I would be shocked at another early exit.

Will Sidney Crosby return?
Imagine you’re a business owner with an out-of-this-world salesman on your staff. The guy is amazing. He’s talented, he attracts clients, and he’s the face of your company. Now imagine yourself going to the most important meeting of the year with your most important client. Except one thing is missing; your amazing salesman.

That’s the NHL without Sid-the-Kid. Love him or hate him, he’s the league’s most important player and the most marketable attraction the NHL has had in years. So, on the league’s biggest stage, one of two times a year the sport really matters, the NHL is severely shorthanded.

I’m not concerned with how Crosby’s absence may or may not impact the Pittsburgh Penguins. 1. I don’t even like the Penguins (or Crosby), and 2. Crosby means more to the NHL than he does to the Penguins. Quick, name one player from five different NHL teams. Not easy, is it? Crosby is the gimme. I guarantee if you ask 100 moderate sports fans that question, 100 will include Crosby. He’s the LeBron James of the NHL. Hockey needs Crosby to be relevant, to expand its market, and reach a younger generation that has grown up believing hockey isn’t even a major sport. While I don’t like Crosby, I love the NHL. Crosby’s health is vital to the continued, albeit painfully slow, resurgence of the NHL. I want Crosby in the 2011 playoffs. The NHL needs Crosby in the 2011 playoffs.

Can the Chicago Blackhawks repeat?
After struggling to find consistency all season, the Blackhawks backed their way into the playoffs despite losing to the Red Wings in the regular season finale. Now that they’re in, are the Blackhawks a legitimate threat, or did Dallas’ loss to Minnesota just delay the inevitable?

As the Boston Celtics are proving right now, changing the core of a title team is not a good idea. I understand the Blackhawks made changes based on financial concerns, but still. Within weeks of hoisting the Stanley Cup, Chicago traded away a handful of players, including playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien, to the Atlanta Thrashers. If you watched the 2010 playoffs, you know Byfuglien was the heart and soul of the Blackhawks. A few months later, Chicago said “no thanks” to retaining their starting goaltender, Antti Niemi. Apparently, blowing up a team after a championship doesn’t improve the likelihood of a repeat. Who knew? Now the Blackhawks face the NHL’s best team in the opening round of the playoffs. I expect Chicago’s quest to repeat to last about a week.

Can the NHL Playoffs compete with the superstars of the NBA Playoffs?
Not a chance. It’s not even a fair fight. The NBA is too big right now. On a national scale, a TV viewer may catch up to three commercials a night featuring an NBA superstar. Conversely, one may be lucky to see a commercial featuring an NHL star twice a month. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant; there’s too many NBA superstars to name. Only Crosby and Ovechkin have a national audience in the NHL. Why the disparity? Exposure. The NBA has multiple weekly national broadcasts on major networks; ABC, TNT, ESPN. The NHL airs on Versus and occasionally broadcasts a game on NBC at noon on Saturday or Sunday.

Versus and NBC are now both owned by Comcast. Flyers owner Ed Snyder (chairmen of Comcast Spectacor) wants the NHL exclusively on those channels. In other words, he doesn’t want ESPN to get the rights to broadcast the NHL. Unfortunately, what’s best for Snyder isn’t best for the NHL.

Like it or not, ESPN controls the sports programming in this country. It’s the first place people look when they want to watch sports. To take its league to the next level, the NHL needs to be seen on a larger national stage. Versus isn’t even on DirecTV’s basic cable package. DirecTV has over 19 million subscribers, the second largest cable provider in the country. You do the math.

If the NHL was smart, it would cut a deal for a weekly hockey night on ESPN. Just an idea, but maybe put the sport in the national spotlight more than twice a year? I know, crazy, right? Signing with ESPN not only elevates the significance of NHL games, but broadens hockey’s exposure on a daily basis as well.

Currently, ESPN has no nightly hockey show, nor does it devote significant attention to hockey on Sportscenter. ESPN isn’t invested in hockey, so, right or wrong, the network doesn’t go to great lengths to market the sport. By granting ESPN at least one signature game a week, the NHL would reap the benefits of more Sportscenter coverage and NHL devoted programming on the nation’s premier sports network. At that point, it would then be in ESPN’s interest to promote the NHL. But that only happens if the NHL gets smart and realizes Versus cannot, and will not take the NHL back to where it once was. Versus has successfully kick-started hockey’s resurgence after the lockout, but the NHL has gone as far as it can with Versus.

The NBA has so many superstars because ESPN, the media, and other major outlets tell us they’re superstars. The NHL just needs a national stage to establish its own stars. ESPN is that stage. Once there, the lights go on and the rest is history.

Enjoy the playoffs, and Mike Emrick, too. There’s no better announcer in sports.

If you have a life, you’re probably unaware of the events that rekindled the heated discussion of fighting in hockey. Let’s quickly get you up to speed.

On February 2^nd, the New York Islanders fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the game’s final minute, goalies Brent Johnson of the Penguins and Rick DiPietro of the Islanders went toe-to-toe. Long story short, DiPietro suffered facial fractures and is sidelined for at least a month.

One night later, the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins engaged in three separate fights within the first four seconds of the game. Puck drops. Fight. Clean up. Puck drops. Fight… you get the idea.

On February 11th, the Penguins and Islanders again got frisky, totaling 346 penalty minutes, 15 fighting majors and 10 ejections.

Just like that, the outcry to outlaw fighting was back.

The unique combination of speed, finesse, and physicality makes hockey great. Removing fighting from the sport wouldn’t change that. However, fighting is woven into the fabric of hockey. It’s as much a part of the game as skating. To take fighting out of hockey would be equivalent to taking the beanball out of baseball.

I understand the push to outlaw fighting. Kids watch hockey. We don’t want our children to believe fighting is an acceptable response to a stressful situation. Also, for better or worse, athletes are role models. When kids see NBA superstars covered in tattoos, they want tattoos. Likewise, when young hockey players see their NHL heroes drop the gloves, they’re likely to do the same.

Fighting also gives the NHL a negative stigma. It draws too much attention to the sport’s “goonery” instead of the amazing skill and precision it requires. The media loves to attack the NHL for fighting. They argue fighting ruins the game, prevents the league from growing, and hurts its appeal. Maybe the media is right, maybe not, but it’s hypocritical to denounce fighting, then turn around and feature it in game recaps, highlight reels, and front-page stories. Tune into Sportscenter every night for a full week. Let me know when you see an NHL highlight crack the first 20 minutes of the show. It won’t happen… unless there’s a brawl or goalie fight. People like to watch fighting. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s entertaining.

If media outlets like ESPN are truly concerned the game won’t progress as long as fighting is permitted, perhaps they should consider how they portray the sport in their own content. Right now, ESPN sells NHL fights. They’re not alone, either. In the last two weeks, there’s been more coverage of the fighting controversy on national sports websites than NHL coverage I’ve seen all season. Fighting sells. Sports outlets exploit this. Still, the NHL is portrayed in a horrific light for embracing something that’s been a part of its game for the past century.

What does the NHL gain by removing fighting anyway? The league is profitable. Viewership is up. Outside of significant fights, the only time the league gets more national interest is from the Winter Classic and Stanley Cup Finals. It makes no sense for the NHL to eliminate fighting when it garners so much attention.

It may ruffle feathers and make media outlets cringe, but fighting in hockey is nobler and less corruptive than anything MTV has aired in the past decade. If ESPN and other media outlets don’t like fighting, then I encourage them to market the more attractive aspects of the game. That is of course, if they’re not too concerned with ratings, readership, and page views.

World Series
I love the World Series. I never miss it…except in 2010. I still can’t figure out exactly why I didn’t watch. I never stop watching just because my team gets eliminated. In fact, when the Sixers lost in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, I was relieved. I no longer felt obligated to watch their crappy games. Yes, the Phillies loss in the NLCS was unquestionably painful. But that’s never stopped me from continuing to watch before. Therefore, if I had to pinpoint why I watched less than 50 pitches of the 2010 World Series, these would be my best guesses.
A. Other than Josh Hamilton, no player on either team captured my interest. I tuned in whenever Hamilton was due up. I caught most of his at-bats in the first three games before giving up entirely.  If I wanted to watch Pat Burrell go hitless, I could have popped in my Phillies season recap DVD from 2003 when he batted an astounding .209. Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum? No thanks. I’m all for good pitching in the Fall Classic but I need more than that to turn off Sunday Night Football.  I know the Rangers have talent, but I didn’t know enough about them to care.
B. I was drained. After being down on the Phillies for most of the 2010 season, I found myself emotionally tied to the team more than the 2009 version. As a Philly fan, I appreciate the teams that struggle and then succeed. The 2010 Flyers were adored because they were overwhelming underdogs. While the Phillies were heavy favorites entering the postseason, they were also a struggling, overpaid club until mid July.
C. No ties to either team. I have quite a few friends that love sports. (They may use another word than “friend.”) Regardless, I didn’t know a single person invested in either team. I always can root for another team in the postseason as long as it doesn’t jeopardize my allegiance to Philly teams. But I need a reason. I had none.
D. FOX did away with the soothing World Series music and used their NFL intro tunes instead. With no team, no player, and no friend invested, I needed the music. It wasn’t there.
I’m not convinced any of these reasons were what actually kept me away from the Series, but at least I took a swing at it. You know, unlike Ryan Howard.

NHL
I’ve read the news release from the NHL a handful of times and still can’t believe what I’m reading. The captains will choose the NHL all-star rosters? Really? I’m all for gimmicks to liven up the all star events -Lord knows they need them- but this could go wrong in so, so, so, so many ways.
First, why would the NHL further alienate their fans? The NHL doesn’t have the endless fan base the NFL boasts. Gary Bettman can’t do whatever he wants. Fans are finally starting to return to hockey after the lockout in 2004. The league is full of good teams, budding rivalries, and superstars. Fans love voting for all-stars. Why take that away? I don’t get it. If you want to make the all-star game more exciting, give a million dollars to the winning team, or better yet, allow the winning team’s captain to skate to center ice, face Bettman and give a thumb up or thumb down Gladiator style on whether Bettman gets to retain his position. Now that would be exciting.
Second, who would want to be named captain? Regardless of who you pick, you’re going to piss off an opponent, teammate, or friend. It’s unavoidable. How would you like skating through the second half of the season with a bull’s eye on your back? If you think jaded hockey players forgive and forget, you’re crazy. Grudge and NHL are synonymous. Players get bonuses for being named an All-star, too. When players lose money because of another player’s biased decision, you can absolutely expect the hostility to spill onto the ice. Actually, on second thought, I like this idea. Captains choose the teams! Woo-hoo!

College Football
Poor Cam Newton. In any other walk of life, Newton’s situation would be understood, expected, and applauded. If you have a product that people want, you sell it immediately. Not next week, not next quarter, not in three years. You sell it now. Cam Newton’s product is himself. He’s the perfect college quarterback. He’s big, he’s fast, he can throw, and can he ever run. Unfortunately, Newton probably won’t be an NFL quarterback. In my opinion, his throwing abilities aren’t sufficient enough, and mobile college quarterbacks don’t translate to the NFL without an all-world arm. Why is it so wrong that Newton tried to get paid while he could? College sports aren’t for amateurs anymore. It’s a professional business. When college kids invent Facebook, they’re not told to wait until graduation to monetize their product. Why do we ask the same of college athletes? Put a salary cap on college sports. It won’t eliminate all of the shady compensation but at least we can stop pretending college football is still an amateur sport.

NBA
There’s an unbelievable amount of excitement in the NBA right now. I can’t remember the last time I looked at the NBA schedule every night before February. Here are a few highlights and lowlights.

• It took Chris Paul all of seven games to reclaim his title as the world’s best point guard. In fact, he probably catapulted himself into the top five players in the NBA. Derrick Rose is must see TV, too.
• I know it’s only November, but I couldn’t be more optimistic about the Spurs. They’re balanced, experienced, and young, all at the same time. More importantly, they’re hitting the 3’s they bricked for most of last season. Richard Jefferson (who looks renewed), Gary Neal (surprise of the NBA thus far), and James Anderson are shooting 47% or higher from long distance. The defense is a disaster but I’m hopeful that will be righted as Gregg Popovich adjusts to his new rotations.
• While Dwyane Wade and LeBron James took slightly less money to join forces, Chris Bosh is stealing money. An aging Boston Celtic front court, Omeka Okafor, and Paul Millsap have now brutalized the Heat. Bosh was supposed to be one of the league’s premier big men. I could rattle off ten players that are not only better, but wouldn’t cost $15 million per season. It’s way too early to write off the Heat because of Bosh’s struggles. However, it appears the road to NBA infamy will be a little bumpier than forecasted for Pat Riley’s offseason bounty.
• Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t the same without Steve Nash. The Knicks still look bad and Stoudemire’s numbers are way down after a stellar year last season. Lucky for New York, the Timberwolves will gladly accept Stoudemire’s contract in a few years when LeBron opts out of South Beach.
• As I discussed here, Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City are struggling. When teams circle you on the calendar, it’s not so easy to win in the NBA. This is part of the learning process for a young team like the Thunder. Whether it takes them a few months or an entire season to adjust will define their season.

The Flyers approached game 5 poorly and incorrectly. After losing two straight and returning home, we all knew the Blackhawks would come out like bats out of hell. The Flyers game plan was to lay low and withstand Chicago’s barrage. They accomplished the former and failed miserably at the latter. Anytime you employ a passive approach in the playoffs you’re going to lose. Yes, had the Flyers been able to withstand Chicago’s attack and gotten through the first 13-16 minutes unscathed, they would have taken the momentum. But that’s a big risk and one not worth taking in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia should’ve pressured the Blackhawks from the start. Had the Flyers struck first, the pressure on Chicago would have increased substantially (already lost two straight, losing early in front of home crowd). Instead, the Flyers gave them a free pass to do as they pleased in the game’s first 15 minutes. A 2-0 Chicago lead ensued and the shell-shocked Flyers allowed that lead to swell to 3-0 heading into the first intermission. The passive approached failed. Watch Chicago tonight, I doubt they’ll make the same mistake and allow the Flyers to dictate the tempo. Instead, they’ll attack with the same tenacity they started with in game 5 and put the pressure on the Flyers to survive.

Their approach wasn’t the only issue the Flyers experienced in game 5. Their lack of physicality was also appalling. Somewhere, Bobby Clarke was throwing his dentures at the wall. Chicago took it to the Flyers all game long, relentlessly pounding on the lifeless Flyers. At no point in the game did I feel that the Flyers, or any single player, stood up to the Blackhawks. Technically, the Flyers never gave up, but their play and lack of gusto indicated they knew winning wasn’t an option. I’m fine with the Flyers losing game 5. Losing happens, but for the love of all that is sacred in Philadelphia Hockey, please hit someone while you’re losing.

Speaking of a lack of physicality, I would like to welcome back Simon Gagne. I’m not sure who was masquerading as Gagne in the Boston and Montreal series’, but the real Simon Gagne has returned. Other than an easy goal in garbage time (a result of a great play by Claude Giroux nonetheless), Gagne has been invisible this series. He’s avoided contact, has had little impact offensively, and put up a -5 in the plus/minus ratio. Don’t worry though, Gagne’s not alone. Jeff Carter (-5) and Mike Richards have also no-showed in the Stanley Cup Finals. Carter can’t score unless the goalie’s on the bench and Richards has struggled immensely – not exactly what you’re looking for from your captain. However, I will take complete blame for Mike Richards’ play. I got so carried away with his 2010 playoff performance that I mentioned him in the same sentence as Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic. Whoops. Based on his play in the Stanley Cup Finals, that would be equivalent to comparing Colin Farrell and Morgan Freeman. So, I’m sorry Mike. I didn’t mean to put the kibosh on your great playoff run. While you’ve tremendously sucked, you’ve at least continued to hustle. Unfortunately, when you’re the captain of a Stanley Cup contender, trying just isn’t enough. Production is necessary. One goal, one assist, and a plus/minus of -6 isn’t hacking it.

There is good news though…

The extra day of rest between games 5 and 6 obviously benefits both teams, but it’s a greater advantage to the Flyers. After a whipping like the one they experienced in game 5, an extended rest is key to forgetting and moving on. That extra day allows Philadelphia more time to digest where they failed (almost everywhere) and regain their focus. More importantly, it also slows the momentum Chicago generated with their game 5 victory. The extra day won’t win game 6 but it certainly doesn’t hurt the Flyers’ chances.

The extra day will be especially nice for Chris Pronger. I’m not talking about recovery though because we know Pronger doesn’t need rest like normal humans. No, the extra day gives Pronger more time to stew. Pronger is angry. His performance in game 5 was as bad as I’ve ever seen him play. He knows this. Pronger isn’t as mean as he was when paired with slap shot extraordinaire, Al MacInnis on the St. Louis Blues in the ‘90s, but I expect him to rekindle some of that aggression and bludgeon people in game 6. If you’ve seen any of his appearances since game 5’s disaster, it’s obvious he’s locked in. Pronger’s endurance and consistency have made him a hockey legend; there’s no way he bombs again in game 6. It’s also worth noting that some dope at the Chicago Tribune thought it’d be a good idea to put Pronger’s upper body on top of a female figure skater’s legs with the title “Chrissy Pronger.” (See it here. You stay classy, Chi-town.) While Pronger won’t publicly discuss the picture, you can bet he’s seen it. Pronger’s awful game 5, playoff experience, mean streak, and the picture in the Tribune have all been simmering for that extra day. In just a few hours Pronger will unleash that stew of rage on the Blackhawks. I can’t wait.

The extra day is nice and Chris Pronger’s play will certainly be inspiring, but the most comforting part about the Flyers’ situation is this: Been there, done that. Wednesday’s game 6 will be the fifth time in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs that the Flyers will compete in an elimination game. Thus far, they’re 4-0. The Flyers recognize the pressure, understand the moment, and know how to succeed. If there’s one thing you can say about this group it’s that they’ll never stop competing. Even in game 5 they continued to compete. (I still don’t think they thought they could win, but they competed nonetheless.) You really can’t ask for more from the team you support. To recap; elimination game experience, a relentless attitude, at home? Yes, I like the Flyers chances to return to Chicago.

1. The Flyers are in desperate need of a LeBron James, Manu Ginobili, or Dwayne Wade type player – someone who can finish around the net. The Flyers dominated the last 30 minutes of game 2 and have nothing to show for it. The opportunities were there, they just couldn’t convert. There are times when the opposing goalie is to blame for such misfortune. This was not one of those times. Sure, Antti Niemi was very good on Monday night, but he wasn’t exactly standing on his head to stop pucks. The Flyers were simply struggling to score. Bouncing pucks, poor angles, shot location; whatever it was, it haunted the orange and black all night. Simon Gagne’s wrister from 12 feet with under a minute remaining was a perfect example of the Flyers making Niemi’s job easy (great scoring chance, poor shot, easy save). The offense is getting their chances. They’re simply not converting.
2. Someone please stop Marian Hossa.  Seriously, please? While he tends to disappear in the finals, Hossa’s clearly locked in this year. (By the way, how bad is it when someone praises you for FINALLY playing well in the Stanley Cup Finals after sucking in the previous TWO? Not exactly a ringing endorsement for consistency. It’d be like throwing BP a party when/if ever they FINALLY control the oil leak. Now back to business…) When Hossa’s on his game he’s an offensive wizard. Leaving him alone in space and allowing him to facilitate will only bite you in the rear. Hopefully a goal, two assists, and a plethora of scoring chances in the first two games of the series have the Flyers prepared for his wizardry in game 3.
3. The Flyers went into game 2 intent on establishing themselves as the more physical team. They accomplished as much for most of the first period. However, as the game progressed it was the Blackhawks doling out the hits. This is bad. It’s one thing for the Blackhawks to be the faster, quicker team, but to allow them to win the physical battle is unacceptable. Philadelphia coach, Peter Laviolette inserted tough guy Danny Carcillo into the lineup for game 2 to add a physical presence and set a tone that would favor the Flyers. Carcillo hit everything that moved (and didn’t move-he landed a few hits on the boards), including teammate Jeff Carter. Unfortunately, the Flyers’ physical play tailed off as the game continued and Chicago’s physical play increased. Allowing Chicago to set the physical tone will never benefit the Flyers. Philadelphia must, must, must use their size and physicality to control the game, especially on the defensive end. It will take 60 minutes of physical hockey for the Flyers to climb back into this series, not 20.
4. Laviolette has brilliantly pulled all the right strings this postseason, but he may have finally outsmarted himself. Granted, I liked adding Carcillo’s energy to the lineup for game 2 but throwing him on the top line for the first period was a head scratcher. Early on Carcillo was too focused on killing someone than playing hockey. As he settled down, he struggled offensively. If you don’t believe me, total up his ice time in the 3^rd period. If it’s more than two minutes, I’ll send you your favorite candy bar. Carcillo is a lightning rod that will add a spark, but he won’t win the Flyers the Stanley Cup. He’s “Portman” from the Mighty Ducks; big, mean, and fearless. Unfortunately, those are his best attributes. When the Flyers started controlling the game and creating consistent scoring chances, Gagne was back with Richards and Carter. Carcillo was on the pine. Keep it simple, Mr. Laviolette. Just keep it simple.
5. The Blackhawks top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Dustin Byfuidffbjfdbdfshglien has yet to impact the series. Combined, they’ve totaled one measly point. As pleased as the Flyers should be with their effectiveness in shutting down Chicago’s top line, it must also be discouraging to see that their efforts have had no affect on the series scoreboard. Regardless, Philadelphia must continue to control the speed of Toews and Kane, and prevent Byfuglien from setting up shop in front of the net – something Chris Pronger has had success with thus far.
6. Speaking of Chris Pronger: He’s a real treat. Pronger took a beating today from Yahoo! Sports columnist Greg Wyshynski for being “childish” and “unsportsmanlike.” All reasonably fair shots. However, this is the Stanley Cup Finals and Pronger has long been one of the most hated players in the NHL, so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care. If taking the puck after each game so that the Blackhawks can’t treasure it is something he feels needs to be done, then so be it. I trust that Pronger knows exactly what he’s doing. Every one of his moves is calculated. Every move has a purpose. Even if it’s just to antagonize an opponent or draw the attention away from his young team.
7. Finally, I think it’s time for a fight. Can we please see a fight? The Flyers should set the tone early with a nice brawl Rocky V style. Not only will it energize the team but it will send the 20,000 fans inside the Wachovia Center into frenzy. There’s nothing Philadelphia fans love more than a fight. Take Craig Berube out of his suit and tie and put him out on the ice if need be. I know he won’t hesitate to go toe to toe with anyone. The Flyers need a kick in the pants. A fight early in game 3 will do the trick. (Also, I was disappointed by the way the referees handled game two. The game began with a high level of feistiness. After a chaotic game one, the two teams appeared to have settled in, both in play and their disdain for each other. Hockey is at its best when two teams don’t like one another. I felt the referees got a little too involved in limiting the extracurricular activities after the whistle. I for one like that stuff. All year hockey is full of fights and post whistle facial massages. Now the playoffs are here and the referees want it to disappear? This is who you are, NHL. Embrace it. Don’t run from it.)

There we are. Seven things the Flyers can do to make sure they go to sleep on Wednesday with renewed life in the Stanley Cup Finals. If they fail and fall beyond 0-3, we’ll be praying for another miracle. And lightning never strikes twice.

The playoffs are where dollars are earned, careers are altered, and legends are born. He’s only 25, but Mike Richards’ 2010 postseason performance has sent him down a career-altering path – one that may even make him a legend.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Richards doesn’t have the explosiveness of Alexander Ovechkin or the offensive brilliance of Sydney Crosby. At 5’11 and 195 lbs., he’s not an overwhelming physical presence either. Richards’ greatest attributes are his grit and the balance of his game – he can score, he can facilitate, and he’s as good a defensive center as there is in the NHL. While he’ll never lead the league in goals or points, he will make your offense, defense, and ultimately, your team, better.

If you were to read the previous paragraph in February or March, you would’ve either laughed or assumed I was on drugs. The Flyers were reeling at the time, and Richards was finishing up his worst full season as a Flyer. His assists were down, his plus/minus was negative, and his leadership was in question. The questions were well deserved too.

Since becoming captain, Richards’ Flyers have underachieved. In 2009 they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, the Flyers were a roller coaster; hot at times and brutally awful at others, especially late in the season. Injuries were a major reason for their inconsistent play, but weathering the long NHL season is a key role of being a captain. The Flyers looked dogged and Richards’ reign as Flyers captain was in serious jeopardy. That was then.

This is now. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the playoffs have been Mike Richards’ coming out party. Not as a hockey player though, as a captain. We’ve all known how talented a hockey player he is. The Flyers organization knew as much when they signed him to a 12 year contract two years ago. However, it wasn’t until the past few weeks that we’ve finally gotten to see what Mike Richards looks like as a captain…and the view is encouraging.

Night in and night out of the 2010 playoffs he’s been the Flyers most consistent player. He rallied the team from 0-3 to defeat Boston and was the most outstanding player in the Eastern Conference Finals (no official award, just my opinion). When the Flyers clinched the series in Game 5, there were three signature moments that epitomized just how far Philadelphia’s young captain had come.

The first was the shorthanded goal to combat the Canadiens onslaught early in the first period. Richards dashed to the puck from his own blue line in an effort to beat Montreal goalie, Jaroslav Havlak. Richards dove to play the puck, collided with Havlak, and then jumped to his feet to put the puck in the net. Two things: First, as previously mentioned, the Flyers were shorthanded. Many players would have accepted the clear and either ended their shift or sat back for the next attack. Richards saw an opportunity and went for it. There’s a reason he’s regarded as the best penalty killer in the league. Second, it was a huge, huge goal. The Canadiens were flying at that point. They were already up 1-0 and threatening on the power play. Richards’ hustle and subsequent goal deflated Montreal. In fact, they didn’t find any kind of rhythm again until late in the 3^rd period. Richards’ gritty goal swung the momentum in dramatic fashion.

Before continuing, let’s take a look at where Richards’ career could be heading. His crisp pass from behind the Canadiens’ goal to Jeff Carter for a 3-1 advantage in the second period provided a nice window into the future. It was a spectacular play by Richards on many levels – positioning, awareness, puck control, passing – it was all there. This is what I love about him. His ceiling is extremely high. We could easily have the next Steve Yzerman/Joe Sakic –esque player on our hands. Yes, both are NHL legends, but Richards has the potential and especially the heart to reach that level. We didn’t know this two months ago. If he can sustain his will and effort, the next decade of Philadelphia hockey should be fun. Even if he doesn’t reach the level of Yzerman and Sakic, he’s already a Michael Peca type player. Peca was a gritty captain for the Buffalo Sabres in the late ‘90’s. He guided Buffalo to a Stanley Cup appearance and was the league’s best defensive center and penalty killer (sound familiar?) as well as an amazing leader. So either way, Richards is heading down a nice path. But I digress.

The second moment was the empty net goal to clinch the series. I know right? An empty net goal? Really? Really. I remember watching the puck bounce to the boards as I thought to myself, “Do it, Mike. Go for it.” (Because you know, we’re on a first name basis.) Richards went for the puck and completely outworked Roman Hamrlik for a good 10 seconds before somehow getting the puck over to Carter who flushed it home. It was one of those moments where one player simply wanted it more. Richards shoved, clawed, and scrapped his way to the puck and wouldn’t stop until he got his result. It was only an empty net goal, but thanks to Richards’ efforts and the prize of going to the finals, 20,000+ fans cheered euphorically as if the goal had just delivered the Stanley Cup itself. Captains must first lead on the ice to have a voice in the locker room. Out-willing the Canadiens on that play was a clear example of Richards’ desire to win. It was more than just an empty net goal. It was a statement. Don’t think his teammates didn’t take notice.

And finally, the trophy presentation. A subtle yet obvious demonstration of how far Richards has come as a captain. In the NHL, any touching/grabbing/celebrating of the conference championship hardware is taboo. The captains of winning teams normally smile for a nice picture and skate away. It’s their way of saying, “this isn’t what we’ve come for.” Last year, Sydney Crosby broke tradition and touched the Prince of Whales Trophy that is given to the Eastern Conference Champion each year. On Monday night, Richards boldly and without hesitation, grabbed the trophy, smiled for a photo, and hoisted the trophy above his head. It was a clear display of Richards’ confidence. I know the tradition, but I know we decide who brings home the Cup, not superstitions. This doesn’t matter. Can I prove this is what was going through his head? Absolutely not. However, watch the clip of the presentation again. Richards has a smirk on his face the whole time. That confident glow is special.

Six months ago Richards was feuding with the local media about his leadership capabilities. Now he’s leading the Flyers into the Stanley Cup Finals. After Richards raised the Whales Trophy over his head, the Flyers’ captain promptly skated off the ice toward the Philadelphia locker room. His teammates followed, hoping their captain will bring them another piece of hardware, one where their names will be inscribed for eternity.

To start, the playoffs happened. While cliché, the playoffs really are an entirely new season. The Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Montreal Canadiens have all proven as much. The Flyers spent most of the 2009-2010 season overcoming injuries and fighting off accusations of locker room issues. Instead of folding and looking toward next year, the Flyers regrouped to become the grittiest team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They erased the overwhelmingly favored New Jersey Devils with relative ease in round one, and followed that up by treating fans to one of the greatest comebacks in history. Overcoming a three games to none deficit is an amazing accomplishment. We could spend 1,200 words describing such a feat. As enjoyable as that may be, let’s focus on what enabled the Flyers to pull off the greatest comeback the NHL has seen in thirty years.

As previously mentioned, the Flyers have overcome a rash of injuries, both in the regular season and the playoffs. They’ve essentially advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with two goalies that were each listed as the team’s third goalie at one point this season. The Flyer’s top scorer and most lethal offensive threat (Jeff Carter) struggled through a rough year and was essentially lost for the playoffs early in the first round. Another offensive threat and veteran leader was also injured for a chunk of the playoffs and just recently returned to action. With or without those injuries, the Flyers are hardly one of the NHL’s elite squads anyway (as far as talent is concerned). Ask any NHL fan from outside the Delaware Valley to name two players from the Philadelphia Flyers and they’ll respond, “Chris Pronger” and “Ron Hextall.” The Flyers aren’t laden with superstars or marquee players. They’re a hardworking, resolute group that have found their groove at the right time, and refuse to roll over when logic tells them they should. (This was perfectly exemplified in game 4 when the Bruins tied the game in the final minutes to force overtime. Most teams down 0-3 in that situation close up shop. The Flyers outplayed Boston in overtime to stay alive and momentum shifted to the Flyers. Tying the game late and then losing was the worst possible scenario for Boston. It gave too much confidence to Philadelphia and deflated Boston more than an outright loss would have. All the pressure immediately shifted to Boston. They never recovered.) Like the city they represent, these Flyers are fighters. They’re Rocky Balboa, Vince Papale, and Bobby Clarke all wrapped into one.

While noble, overcoming injuries and playing with heart isn’t enough to win in the playoffs. An unheralded complementary cast is necessary to succeed. Scottie Hartnell and Claude Giroux won’t make Sportscenter’s Top Plays on a nightly basis, but they will make a difference in a long series. TNT’s basketball analyst, Doug Collins often uses the term, “50/50” plays. These are the small plays that appear insignificant but ultimately decide a series. Obviously, they’re referred to as 50/50 plays because they’re entirely up for grabs. These plays aren’t given freely though, they’re earned. Hustle, hard work, determination, and grit win most 50/50 plays. Hartnell and Giroux have provided the Flyers with an overwhelming majority of 50/50 plays. Giroux has an uncanny ability to find the open man and create offense, while Hartnell has thrown his body around to clear a puck, insight some energy, and even score a significant goal when needed. These guys are pocket knives. Whatever you need from them, they’re willing and able to provide it. You can’t win in the playoffs without “pocket knife” players.

In addition to the pocket knives, a successful playoff team requires heroic performances. Even though he looks as if he skates in mud through open ice, Chris Pronger has proven his worth throughout these playoffs. He’s big, mean, and more importantly, the reason Flyer goalies have had mostly clear views of the shots coming their way. Pronger clears the front of the net like a plow, and he isn’t afraid to deliver or absorb a severe blow in the process.

On the offensive end, the Flyers are getting “who are you, and what did you do with your old self?” performances from Danny Briere and Simon Gagne. Fittingly, both players have been tagged as career underachievers for the Flyers. In the second round especially, Briere and Gagne have carried the scoring load. Both scored goals at critical junctures of the series. Gagne returned from injury to net the overtime game winner to avoid the sweep in game four, and then sealed the series with his late 3^rd period goal in game 7. Briere has scored big goals throughout the series as well and has also been a catalyst for the Flyers offense. It took awhile, but Briere is finally playing like the player the Flyers thought they were getting when they plucked him from Buffalo three years ago.

Even more critical to the Flyers success is the character of the team. The Flyers never stop fighting, always play with urgency, and never believe they’re finished. These characteristics are all a direct reflection of leadership. In hockey terms, the Flyers’ captain is a bad man. That man is Mike Richards. Over the past two seasons, Richards has received harsh criticism for his leadership skills-he’s not tough enough, not focused, stays out too late, etc… Well guess what? When your team claws its way back from a 0-3 deficit to win a seven game series, that means your captain knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it well.

Great athletes rise from adverse situations. It took Richards some time to figure out his role as captain, but he’s certainly responded to that call now. Watch any Flyers game over the past month and one player will stick out. He’s the player that goes all out for an entire shift. He scores, he facilitates, he defends, he fights, he hits, and he’s the fiercest player on the ice. For lack of a better term, he RUMBLES. Now look at that man’s number; it’s number 18. Mike Richards has grown into the leadership role the Flyers knew he was capable of when they slapped that “C” on his sweater. He couldn’t have picked a better time.

The Flyers playoff run is full of feel-good stories and obviously, a historic revival. They discarded long time nemesis Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in round one, poetically fought off a 0-3 series deficit to win game seven 4-3 after trailing 0-3 early in the first period, and have managed to gain home ice for the conference finals as a seventh seed. It’s a great story. Now here’s the inconvenient truth of the situation; if the Flyers don’t win the Stanly Cup, or at the very least advance to the Cup Finals, it will all be mostly forgotten.

I know, I know, you’re angry and think I’m wrong. Settle down and listen. It’s not fun, but this is the way sports work. If the Boston Red Sox don’t go on to win the 2004 World Series after storming back from 0-3 against the Yankees, do we remember that comeback like we do today? No, not really. Maybe we remember the comeback, but it’s severely watered down. Look at 4^th and 26. It was/is perhaps the greatest play in NFL playoff history. Unfortunately, the miraculous fourth down conversion is mostly ignored in the sports world because the Eagles wet the bed against Carolina in the NFC Championship. If a title doesn’t follow a great playoff moment, that moment is ultimately for naught. It’s a harsh reality, but also very true.

Right now the Flyers’ second round comeback against the Boston Bruins is historic. For it to become legendary, a parade down Broad Street must ensue. We remember the Red Sox’s rally in the ALCS because they won the World Series. We adore Rocky’s determination and toughness because he eventually took down Ivan Drago. Without a Stanley Cup, we’ll have a nice story and fond memories of the 2010 Flyers, but nothing legendary.